Governor backs department for elderly affairs

Jeremy AlfordCapitol Correspondent

Published: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 8:13 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 8:13 p.m.

BATON ROUGE — With hopes of transforming Louisiana into a premier destination for retirees and to address the needs of the state’s fastest-growing population, Gov. Bobby Jindal signed a bill into law Wednesday to create a new department dedicated to senior citizens.

“I’m very appreciate of the governor,” said Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville, who authored the legislation. “This is a big win for seniors, and they deserve it.”

While Harrison’s House Bill 352 serves as the foundation to establish a new state department, there is a catch.

The constitution only allows for 20 state departments, a legal quota that is filled.

That was part of the objection raised by Jindal’s administration when the bill first started to move during the legislative session that adjourned June 6.

“That’s something we are all already starting to work on,” said Harrison, who was uncertain of Jindal’s stance on the issue until Wednesday evening.

For a new department to be created, lawmakers would have to pass a future constitutional amendment adding a 21st department, which voters would then have to approve.

Another option would be merging two or more existing departments.

Toward the end of the session, Sen. Jody Amedee, R-Gonzales, asked his colleagues to support a comprehensive study on the alternative.

His Senate Concurrent Resolution 114, which received final approval, asks the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee, which he chairs, to review the possibilities, with a report due prior to the 2014 session.

While a previous study temporarily put the spotlight during session on the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Department of Children and Family Services, Harrison said Amedee’s resolution puts everything back on the table.

Additionally, Harrison said he plans to introduce the required constitutional amendment during the 2014 regular session, just in case.

“We’re going to be prepared either way,” he said.

The problem with the current system, he added, is that several different departments have offices that service the needs of seniors.

A centralized hub for all things related to elderly affairs would be more efficient, Harrison said, and serve as a model for other states.

“We’re the first ones in the United States moving toward a single department for all of this,” he said.

It’s an issue that drew hundreds of seniors to the State Capitol during the session, like Diana Edmonson of Houma, director of the Terrebonne Parish Council on Aging.

She said in an earlier interview that the state is doing seniors a disservice by keeping agencies and offices dealing with elderly affairs spread across several departments.

She said seniors, who number around 800,000 in Louisiana, can be a political force, but qualified it by adding “we’re more than just a number.”

Harrison said the new state department would recognize as much.

“Elderly citizens bring unique needs and opportunities to bear that can only be addressed by a department whose sole purpose is focused on these needs,” he said.

Under the new law, the existing Office of Elderly Affairs in the executive branch would be abolished and replaced by the Department of Elderly Affairs as its successor.

The Louisiana Executive Board on Aging would become part of the department as well.

The law also requires that a new position of secretary, appointed by the governor, be created to oversee the department.

<p>BATON ROUGE — With hopes of transforming Louisiana into a premier destination for retirees and to address the needs of the state's fastest-growing population, Gov. Bobby Jindal signed a bill into law Wednesday to create a new department dedicated to senior citizens. </p><p>“I'm very appreciate of the governor,” said Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville, who authored the legislation. “This is a big win for seniors, and they deserve it.”</p><p>While Harrison's House Bill 352 serves as the foundation to establish a new state department, there is a catch. </p><p>The constitution only allows for 20 state departments, a legal quota that is filled. </p><p>That was part of the objection raised by Jindal's administration when the bill first started to move during the legislative session that adjourned June 6.</p><p>“That's something we are all already starting to work on,” said Harrison, who was uncertain of Jindal's stance on the issue until Wednesday evening. </p><p>For a new department to be created, lawmakers would have to pass a future constitutional amendment adding a 21st department, which voters would then have to approve. </p><p>Another option would be merging two or more existing departments. </p><p>Toward the end of the session, Sen. Jody Amedee, R-Gonzales, asked his colleagues to support a comprehensive study on the alternative.</p><p>His Senate Concurrent Resolution 114, which received final approval, asks the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee, which he chairs, to review the possibilities, with a report due prior to the 2014 session. </p><p>While a previous study temporarily put the spotlight during session on the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Department of Children and Family Services, Harrison said Amedee's resolution puts everything back on the table. </p><p>Additionally, Harrison said he plans to introduce the required constitutional amendment during the 2014 regular session, just in case. </p><p>“We're going to be prepared either way,” he said. </p><p>The problem with the current system, he added, is that several different departments have offices that service the needs of seniors. </p><p>A centralized hub for all things related to elderly affairs would be more efficient, Harrison said, and serve as a model for other states.</p><p>“We're the first ones in the United States moving toward a single department for all of this,” he said. </p><p>It's an issue that drew hundreds of seniors to the State Capitol during the session, like Diana Edmonson of Houma, director of the Terrebonne Parish Council on Aging.</p><p>She said in an earlier interview that the state is doing seniors a disservice by keeping agencies and offices dealing with elderly affairs spread across several departments.</p><p>She said seniors, who number around 800,000 in Louisiana, can be a political force, but qualified it by adding “we're more than just a number.” </p><p>Harrison said the new state department would recognize as much.</p><p>“Elderly citizens bring unique needs and opportunities to bear that can only be addressed by a department whose sole purpose is focused on these needs,” he said.</p><p>Under the new law, the existing Office of Elderly Affairs in the executive branch would be abolished and replaced by the Department of Elderly Affairs as its successor.</p><p>The Louisiana Executive Board on Aging would become part of the department as well. </p><p>The law also requires that a new position of secretary, appointed by the governor, be created to oversee the department. </p><p>Jeremy Alford can be reached at jeremy@jeremyalford.com</p>